Yes, projections might say that software development jobs will grow a staggering 21% in the next 10 years. However, don’t think for a second that such availability will guarantee you a software engineering career. It’s true that there’s a talent shortage but having theoretical knowledge doesn’t translate into an instant job.
As with any other profession
You’ll need to prepare for companies job function email list to see you as the development rockstar you aspire to be. That means a lot of things, apart from the more technical stuff. It means, for instance, that you’ll have to know how to market yourself to them. This means that you’ll have to learn how to reach out to companies looking for talent, prepare your social profiles (especially LinkedIn), and have an online portfolio to showcase your work.
More importantly, there’s networking
Remember that I said you should attend conferences to meet new people in the industry? Yeah, don’t take that lightly. Those conferences (and any software development events you can go to) are the places where you’ll probably meet your future employer. So make sure to go out there, introduce yourself, and talk about your prospects.
A lot of people go to those events with there are plenty of platforms and tools the same goal, so you might as well prepare for battle. You’ll have to learn how to pitch what you have to offer, have a strong knowledge of your capabilities, and, again, have some work ready to show to anyone interested. Your portfolio doesn’t have to include complex algorithms or anything like that. It’s enough if you can show clean products that show you know your way around coding (and that you do so following good practices).
Making the Switch: Tough but Rewarding
All of the above isn’t necessarily a comprehensive review of everything you’ll have to do to become a software engineer. In fact, I’ve barely scratched the surface of what it means to turn to a software development career. However, you’ve probably noticed one thing – it takes a lot of work and effort to do so.
I’m not trying to discourage you here. That’s fax marketing the truth. Software engineering isn’t easy and will frustrate you in a lot of different ways. But a lot of people have already made the switch and you can too. The main thing you should take away from this article is this: you have to find a way to learn that better fits you.
That might be taking online classes, attending college, or just reading books and coding your days away. Whatever path you choose to take, it’ll be a challenging one. Yet, remember that there are a lot of people out there that know how hard it is to become a software engineer and are eager to help you on your own path. Don’t hesitate to ask for help and don’t give up – the future belongs to software engineers.